First Lady Michelle Obama swept into town yesterday to give the Big Apple a culture boost, hitting a museum and the ballet, hobnobbing with famous names and getting down to earth with schoolkids.

Mrs. Obama drew more attention than a new exhibit as she dedicated the renovated American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art before a crowd that included Mayor Bloomberg, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, designer Ralph Lauren and model Iman.

The event, which included students from public schools specializing in the arts, came during Mrs. Obama’s second visit to New York since becoming first lady — and her first since Maxim magazine listed her as one of the 100 “hottest women in the world.”

Resplendent in a purple Isaac Mizrahi dress with a matching, bow-tied jacket, she spoke about culture as a societal building block.

“The intersection of creativity and commerce is about more than economic stimulus,” she said.

Last night, she wowed the crowd at the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala.

“My husband and I believe strongly that art education is essential for building innovative thinkers who will be our nation’s leaders of tomorrow,” she said.

She noted it was the first appearance of dancers from the ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School — and Caroline Kennedy was there, along with Ivanka Trump and Renée Zellweger.